Is stem cell research a good or bad idea? Why?

Question

I have been hearing the talk of stem cells lately. I'm not sure if it's for the good or bad, but I'm writing an editorial on this subject for school and was wondering if I can have some opinions..Do you think stem cell research is actually a good idea or not? (Try to stick to one answer) And also tell me why?

Answer 1

Stem cell research is very good. The problem is that some people want to include fetal stem cells in the research and that is very wrong in some people's opinions. There is no reason to use fetal stem cells when you can just as easily get them from adults. We all have stem cells. Stem cells are just new cells that are so young that they have the ability to become any type of cell: a brain cell, a muscle cell, a kidney cell, etc. Using fetal stem cells is just too close to abortion for alot of people, including myself.

Answer 2

Research is ALWAYS good. It is the manner in which said research is conducted that may pause problems.

Stem cells might allow the in-situ regeneration of organs. Already there were a few instances where mouse with a severe heart condition (following a simulated heart attack) got an injection of stem cells that were extracted and processed from marrow taken from their own body. After a few month, the heart tissue that was just a big scar (degenerated from the necrosis due to the heart attack) was replaced by healthy tissue; the heart was like new!
This experiment was done in 2001 (see first link), and in June of this year, scientists were planning to test it on human patients (see second link). I remember seeing a segment about someone already having benefited from the experimental process, but cannot find the reference.

At any rate, stem cells have the potential for fixing a LOT of diseases, and cure people who otherwise would have to rely on an organ transplant (and everyone knows organs for transplant are scarce, and hopefully they will have to be even more scarce in the future, we don't want people to die just so they can be donor, right?)

Answer 3

Definately a good idea. There's a few reasons: first of all, not all stem cells come from an embryonic source. Stem cells can be both adult and embryonic, and both can be used towards research into degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's on the brain, and regrowth of cells elsewhere, like after chemotherapy with cancer patients. The possibilities for dealing with currently untreatable diseases are amazingly vast. And since stem cells can come from several sources, many of which aren't that destructive, they're more than worthwhile.
One thing though. There really is no such thing as a "stem cell." It's a general term for a group of progenitor cells that branch off and differentiate into different cells of the body. Might be nice to stick that in.

Answer 4

I don't think you'll find anybody who's opposed to stem cell research. There are too many promising areas of possible advancement. What you've half-heard is that some people are concerned about embryonic stem cell research producing and using embryos for research. We all began life as embryos, and the official Roman Catholic position is that destruction of life (or at least potential life) for research purposes is wrong. It certainly gives one moral pause to consider placing economic incentives on the production of extra embryos for research purposes. At least some degree of regulation needs to be in place to avoid the specter of poor women being turned into "embryo factories" for the industry.

Answer 5

yes it's good , but no it's criminal when dealing with the
fetal issue. Simply because abortion gets mixed into it
and with that comes the issue of fetal homocide.

Answer 6

Very very good. Promises to cure hither to incurable diseases.